Ophthalmic mounting



Patented July 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK A. STEVENS, or PROVIDENCE,

RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO BAUSCH. AND LOMB'OPTICAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW

YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING.

Application .filed April 9,

The present invention relates to ophthalmic mountings, and more particularly to mountings of the combination metal-and composition type, such as are disclosed, for example, in Patent No. 1,177,367, granted March 28, 1916, and in Reissue Patent No. 16,232, granted December 22, 1925.

According to the structures of both the above-named patents, a metal rim is combined with a rim constituted of non-metallic material, such as zylonite or other composition, without the aid of rivets, screws, pins, clips andthe like, to form a serviceable, as Well as ornamental, ophthalmic mounting. In both structures, the metal rim is of special design. From the very nature of the construction, in fact, .as the lens is designed to rest against the non-metallic material, the use of standard metal rims was not practicable.

In Patent No. 1,600,605, granted September 21., 1926, there is disclosed an ophthalmic mounting of the above-described character in which the lens is adapted to rest against the metal rim. In order to avoid the use of additional retaining elements,such as screws, pins, clips and the like, the metal rim is again shown as of special construction; and to insure that the elemental metal and zylonite rims shall be held securely together, the zylonite rim is not pressed against the metal rim, but is snapped or sprung thereover, the elemental rims being previously so shaped as to permit of their assembly in this manner.

Combination metal and non-metallic mountings the metal rims of which are of standard design have been in extensive use, but either the elemental rims have been held together by additional retaining members, or the metal rim has been retained within the non-metallic rim by pressing the non-metallic material firmly against the metal. The disadvantages of the first-named type need not be dwelt on at length. Suffice itto say that manufacturers have been continually replacing one retaining member by another, as screws by pins, clips by lugs, etc. and the process of replacement isstill going. on. Some of the difficulties attendant upon pressing the zylonite against the metal are enumerated in the abovesmentioned patents.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved ophthalmic mounting of the above-described character the non- 1921. Serial No. 459,940.

metallicrim of which shall be secured to a standard metal rim without the aid of additional retaining elements, and Without involving the necessity of pressing or otherwise deforming the non-metallic material.

lVith this end in view, afeature of the invention resides in previously shaping the metal-rim-receiving slot of the zylonite rim so as to conforn iclosely to the surface of the metal rim. If the zylonite or other compositioir is properly cured, it will be resilient, pern'iitting the'zylonite to be sprung or snappedintoposition over the metal rim.

The zylonite rim may as easily be removed from the standard metal rim, when desired, but can not accidentally become separated therefrom.

To the above end, the invention consists,

of the improved ophthalmic mounting here.- iuafter described, illustrated in the accom- 'ianying drawings, and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings,'Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of an improved ophthalmic mounting constructed according to the present in vention; Fig. 2 is a section, taken upon the line 2- -2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating a preferred embodiment ofthe invention; Fig. 3 is a similar section of a modification; Fig. .4 is a section illustrating a' preferred method of manufacturing the non-metallic rim illustrated in Fig. 2; and Figure 5 is a View of another modification.

The standard inner metal rim 2, as is well known, is of substantially circular cross section, and is provided with an inner lensreceiving groove 4 of narrower width than the cross-sectional diameter of the rim, as will be clear from Figs. 2, 3 and 5. Resulting from the method of manufacture (not illustrated) of the rim 2, the faces 6 of the groove 4 are usually roundedat their junction '8 with the exterior surface 10 of the rim. The invention is not restricted to use 'in spectacles, but for illustrative purposes, a spectacle mounting in shown in the drawing. The spectacle rim 2 is split at 12, temple receiving end pieces 14 being shown secured to the split ends of the rim. The usual nose bridgeisindicated at .16.

The outer rim 18 of the present invention is constituted of resilient, non-metallic material, like zylonite, and is provided with an inner annular slot 20 within which the metal rim 2 is seated. The wall of the slot 20 is circular in cross section and shaped to conform to the exterior surface 10 of the metal rim. The mouth 22 of the slotis narrower than the cross sectional diameter of the rim, so that the metal rim 2 may be snugly enclosed within the zylonite rim 18. The rims 2 and 18 are assembled by forcing the metal rim 2 into the slot 20, by way of the mouth 22, the resilient wings 24.- yielding momentarily at such time to permit the metal rim to become seated within the slot, and then snapping or springing back into normal position, where they lirmly engage and hold the metal rim. The rims can not be accidentally separated because of this resilient engagement, but, owing to the round contour of the metal rim 2, intentional separation may be readily effected by pulling upon one or both of the split ends 26 of the zylonite rim in a direction away from the metal rim, as indicated by the arrows, Fig. 1. The wings 21 will then resiliently slide momentarily over the round exterior surface 10 of the metal rim 2 to permit the unseating of the metal rim.

As the Zylonite rim is not permanently deformed or strained, either during the assembly or during the separation of the rims, there is no tendency for the zylonite to creep away from its hold upon the metal, as would be the case, for example, if the zylonite were pressed into engagement with and against the metal, and the elemental rims 2 and 18 of the mounting are accordingly always held firmly together. All that is necessary is that the annular slot 20 be previously properly shaped to conform to the surface 10 of the metal rim 2.

A convenient method of manufacturing the zylonite rim 18 shown in Fig. 3 is to split a zylonite tube 28 along the lines 30. A zylonite rim constructed in this manner will serve its purpose very well. It sometimes happens, however, that the wall of the slot of the tube 28 does not always conform exactly to the surface 10 of the metal rim 2, particularly as the metal rim is not always strictly circular in cross section, as shown, but is sometimes a little flattened. The tube 28, of course, may be manufactured so as to prevent a correspondingly flattened slot 32, but it then becomes necessary to choose carefully the location of the slitting lines 30. Gaps Set between the zylonite and the metal, furthermore, are usually left at the regions adjacent to the rounded faces 8, and a mounting the elemental rims of which will be held together more securely will naturally be obtained if the wings 2 1 of the zylonite rim are shaped so as to engage around, and fit tightly against, these rounded faces 8, as is illustrated in Fig. 2. It is accordingly found preferable to skive the slot 20 in solid cylin drical rods of Zylonite, the skiving tools being shaped so asto yield the exact shape of the slot 20 that is desired.

The lens 36 may rest against the metal, as in Figs. 2 and 3, or against the zylonite, as in Fi 5.

Modifications will readily occur to persons skilled in the art, and are considered to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. An ophthalmic mounting having, in combination, an inner rim having an inner lens-receiving groove, and an outer rim having wings forming between them an inner annular slot within which the inner rim is seated, the wings extending beyond the inner rim, whereby a lens is adapted to rest against the extending portions of the wings without engaging the walls of the lens-receiving groove.

2. An ophthalmic mounting having, in combination, an inner metal rim of substantially circular cross-section having an inner lei'is-receiving groove of narrower width than the cross-sectional diameter of the rim, and a split outer rim constituted of resilient, non-metallic material having wings forming between them an inner annular slot within which the metal rim is seated, the inner walls of the slot being of substantially circular cross section and shaped to conform to the exterior surface of the metal rim and being adapted to yield resiliently during the seating of the metal rim within the slot and during the separation of the rims, the wings extending beyond the metal rim, whereby a lens is adapted to rest against the extending portions of the wings without engaging the walls of the lens-receiving groove.

3. The method of making an ophthalmic mounting that comprises slotting a tube constituted of resilient, nonunetallic material to produce annular wings on each side of the slot, whereby an annular slot is formed between the wings, temporarily resiliently separating the portions of the wings near the mouth of the slot, introducing a second rim into the slot by way of the separated port-ions, and permitting the separated portions of the wings to spring back into normal position to engage the second rim and hold the rims together.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this first day of April, 1921.

FREDERICK A. STEVENS. 

